Alexander and Scipio which you have cited, I say I am unwilling to deny
that both performed an act worthy of much praise; yet to the end that
you may not be able to say that in rehearsing ancient matters I tell you
fables, I wish to cite a woman of low degree in our own times, who
showed far more continence than these two great men.
43.—“I say, then, that I once knew a beautiful and gentle girl, whose
name I do not tell you lest you give food for slander to many fools, who
conceive a bad opinion of a woman as soon as they hear of her being in
love. Well, this girl having been long loved by a noble and
well-conditioned youth, began to love him with all her mind and heart;
and of this not only I (to whom she voluntarily confided everything as
if I had been, I will not say her brother, but her dearest sister), but
all those who saw her in the presence of the beloved youth, were very
certain of her passion. Loving thus as fervently as a very loving soul
can love, she maintained such continence for two years that she never
gave this youth any token of loving him, except such as she could not
hide; neither would she ever speak to him or receive letters from him or
gifts, although a day never passed but she was besought to do both. And
I well know how she longed for it, because if she was sometimes able to
possess anything secretly that had been the youth’s, she held it so dear
that it seemed to be the source of her life and all her weal; and never
in all that time would she grant him other pleasure than to see him and
let herself be seen, and to dance with him as with the others when she
took part in public festivals.
“And since they were well suited to each other in condition, the girl
and the youth desired that their great love might end happily, and that
they might be man and wife together. The same was desired by all the
other men and women of their city, except her cruel father, who out of
perverse and strange caprice wished to marry her to another and richer
man; and to this the unhappy girl opposed naught but very bitter tears.
And the ill-starred marriage having been concluded, with much pity from
the people and to the despair of the poor lovers, even this blow of
fortune did not avail to destroy the love so deeply rooted in their
hearts; which still endured for the space of three years, although she
very prudently concealed it and sought in every way to stifle those
desires that now were hopeless. And all this time she kept her stern
resolve of continence; and as she could not honourably possess him whom
alone in the world she adored, she chose not to wish for him in any
wise, and to follow her custom of accepting neither messages nor gifts
nor even glances from him; and in this fixed resolve, the poor girl,
overcome by sharpest anguish and grown very wasted from long passion,
died at the end of three years, preferring to renounce the joys and
pleasures so eagerly desired, and at last her very life, rather than her
honour. Nor was she without ways and means of satisfying herself quite
secretly and without risk of disgrace or any other harm; and yet she
abstained from that which she herself so greatly desired and towards
which she was so urged continually by the person whom alone in the world
she desired to please: nor was she moved therein by fear or any other
motive than mere love of true virtue.
“What will you say of another, who for six months spent nearly every
night with a dearly cherished lover; yet, in a garden full of sweetest
fruits, invited by her own most ardent longing and by the prayers and
tears of one dearer to her than life itself, she refrained from tasting
them; and although she was caught and held in the fast bonds of those
beloved arms, she never yielded herself vanquished, but preserved the
flower of her chastity immaculate.
44.—“Do you think, my lord Gaspar, that these acts of continence are
equal to Alexander’s?—who (being most ardently enamoured, not of
Darius’s women, but of that fame and greatness which incited him by
thirst for glory to endure toils and dangers to make himself immortal)
spurned not only other things, but his own life, in order to win renown
above all other men. And do we marvel that with such thoughts at heart
he abstained from something he did not much desire? For since he had
never seen the women before, he could not possibly love them in a
moment, but perhaps even loathed them because of his enemy Darius; and
in that case every wanton act of his towards them would have been
outrage and not love. Hence it is no great thing that Alexander, who
conquered the world no less by magnanimity than by arms, abstained from
doing outrage to women.
“Scipio’s continence also is much to be praised. Yet if you consider
rightly, it is not to be compared with these two women’s; for he too
likewise abstained from something not desired;—being in a hostile
country, newly in command, at the beginning of a very important
enterprise; having left great expectations of himself at home, and bound
to render an account to very strict judges, who often punished very
small mistakes as well as great, and among whom he knew he had enemies;
conscious also that if he acted otherwise (the lady being very noble and
married to a very noble lord), he might arouse so many enemies and in
such fashion that they might long hinder and perhaps quite snatch away
his success. Hence, for reasons thus many and important, he abstained
from a light and harmful wish, displaying continence and generous
uprightness; which, as it is written, gave him the entire good will of
those nations, and was worth another army to him, wherewith by
gentleness to conquer hearts that perhaps would have been unconquerable
by force of arms.[411]
. . . . . .
“Forgive me, my lord Gaspar, if I say the truth, for in short these are
the miraculous continences that men write about themselves while
accusing women of incontinence, in whom we every day see countless
tokens of continence; for in truth, if you consider well, there is no
fortress so impregnable and well defended that, if it were assailed with
a thousandth part of the wiles and tricks that are employed to overcome
the steadfast heart of woman, it would not surrender at the first
assault.
“How many creatures of great lords,—enriched by them and placed in very
high esteem, entrusted with their castles and fortresses, whereon depend
their whole state, life and weal,—have basely and sordidly surrendered
these to such as had no right thereto, without shame or fear of being
called traitors? And would to God there were so great a dearth of such
men in our days, that we might have no more trouble to find a man who
had done his duty in this regard, than to name those who have failed in
theirs. Do we not see many others who daily go about slaying men in the
forest and scouring the sea solely to steal money?
“How many prelates sell the property of God’s church! How many lawyers
forge wills! How many perjurers bear false witness only to get money!
How many physicians poison the sick to the same end! Again, how many do
the vilest things from fear of death! And yet a tender and delicate girl
often resists all these sharp and hard encounters; for many have been
found who preferred death rather than lose their chastity.”
47.—Then my lord Gaspar said:
“These, messer Cesare, I believe are not on earth to-day.”
Messer Cesare replied:
“I will not cite the ancients now; but I tell you this, that many would
be and are to be found, who in such case do not fear to die. And now I
remember that when Capua was sacked by the French (which was not so long
ago that you cannot recall it very well),[412] a beautiful young Capuan
lady being led out of her house, where she had been captured by a
company of Gascons, when she reached the river that flows through
Capua,[413] she pretended that she wished to tie her shoe, so that he
who was leading her let her go a little, and she suddenly threw herself
into the river.
“What will you say of a peasant girl, who not many months ago, at
Gazuolo in the Mantuan territory,[414] went with her sister to reap corn
in the fields, and being overcome with thirst, entered a house for a
drink of water; and the master of the house, who was a young man, seeing
that she was very beautiful and alone, took her in his arms, and first
with soft words, and then with threats, sought to persuade her to his
wishes; and she resisting more and more stubbornly, he at last overcame
her with many blows and with force. So, dishevelled and weeping, she
went back to her sister in the field, nor would she for all her sister’s
urgent questioning tell what outrage she had received in that house; but
on the way home, feigning to grow calmer little by little and to speak
quite without agitation, she gave her sister some directions. Then when
she came to the Oglio, which is the river that flows by Gazuolo,[415]
she left her sister a little behind not knowing or imagining what she
meant to do, and suddenly threw herself in. Wailing and weeping her
sister ran after her as fast as possible along the bank of the river,
which was bearing her down-stream very rapidly: and each time the poor
creature rose to the surface, her sister threw her a cord which they had
to bind the corn, and although the cord reached her hands several times
(for she was still near the bank), the steadfast and determined girl
always refused it and put it from her; and thus rejecting every aid that
might save her life, she soon died: nor was she moved by nobility of
birth, nor by fear of most cruel death or of infamy, but solely by grief
for her lost virginity.[416]
[Illustration:
LUDOVICO GONZAGA
BISHOP OF MANTUA
1458-1511
]
From a photograph, specially made by Signor Lanzoni, of a part of the
fresco, “The Return of Cardinal Francesco Gonzaga,” in the _Sala
degli Sposi_ of the Gonzaga Palace at Mantua, painted not later than
1474 by Andrea Mantegna (1431-1506). See Woltmann’s _Geschichte der
Malerei_, ii, 268.
“Now from this you can understand how many other women, who are not
known, perform acts most worthy of praise; for although this one gave
such proof of her virtue only three days since, as one may say, there is
no talk of her and even her name is unknown. But if the death of our
lady Duchess’s uncle, the Bishop of Mantua,[417] had not occurred at
that time, the bank of the Oglio, at the place where she threw herself
in, would have been graced by a very beautiful monument to the memory of
that glorious soul, which deserved so much the brighter fame after
death, because in life it dwelt in a less noble body.”
48.—Here messer Cesare made a little pause; then he continued:
“At Rome, in my day, there happened another like case; and it was that a
beautiful and noble Roman girl, being long pursued by one who seemed to
love her much, was never willing to favour him at all, even with a
single look. So, by means of money he corrupted one of her women; who,
desirous of satisfying him in order to get more money from him,
persuaded her mistress to visit the church of San Sebastiano on a
certain day of small solemnity;[418] and having made everything known to
the lover and shown him what he must do, she led the girl to one of
those dark caves which nearly all who go to San Sebastiano are wont to
visit; and in this the young man was already hidden secretly.
“Finding himself alone with her whom he loved so much, he began in all
ways to beg her as gently as he could to have pity on him and change her
former hardness to love. But after he saw all his prayers to be in vain,
he had resort to threats, which failing too, he began to beat her
cruelly; at last, although firmly resolved to attain his end, by force
if necessary, and therein employing the help of the infamous woman who
had led her thither, he was never able to bring her to consent. Nay,
with both word and deed (although she had little strength), the poor
girl defended herself to the last: so that partly from anger at seeing
that he could not obtain what he desired, partly from fear lest her
relatives might make him suffer for it when they learned the thing, this
wretch, with the help of the servant (who feared the like), strangled
the unhappy girl and left her there; and having fled, he took means not
to be discovered. Blinded by her very crime, the servant could not flee,
and being taken into custody on suspicion, confessed everything and so
was punished as she deserved.
“The body of the steadfast and noble girl was taken from that cave with
the greatest honour and brought to Rome for burial, with a laurel crown
upon her head, and accompanied by a countless host of men and women;
among whom there was no one who went home without tears in his eyes; and
thus was this rare soul universally mourned as well as praised by all
the people.
49.—“But to speak to you of those whom you yourselves know, do you not
remember having heard that when my lady Felice della Rovere was
journeying to Savona,[419] and feared that some sails that were sighted
were vessels of Pope Alexander in pursuit of her, she made ready with
fixed resolve to cast herself into the sea, in case they should come up
and there was no remedy by flight: and it is in no wise to be believed
that she acted in this from lightness, for you know as well as any other
with what intelligence and wisdom this lady’s singular beauty was
accompanied.
“Nor can I refrain from saying a word of our lady Duchess, who having
for fifteen years lived like a widow in company with her husband, not
only was steadfast in never revealing this to anyone in the world, but
when urged by her own people to lay aside her widowhood, she chose
rather to endure exile, poverty and every other sort of hardship, than
to accept that which seemed to all others great favour and blessing of
fortune;”[420] and as messer Cesare was going on to speak of this, my
lady Duchess said:
“Speak of something else, and go no further with this subject, for you
have many other things to say.”
Messer Cesare continued:
“Yet I know you will not deny this, my lord Gaspar, nor you, Frisio.”
“Indeed no,” replied Frisio; “but one does not make a host.”
50.—Then messer Cesare said:
“It is true that such great results as these are met in few women:
still, those also who withstand the assaults of love are all admirable;
and those who are sometimes overcome deserve much pity: for certainly
the urgence of lovers, the arts they use, the snares they spread, are so
many and so continual that it is but too great a wonder that a tender
girl can escape. What day, what hour, ever passes that the persecuted
girl is not besought by the lover with money, gifts and all things that
must please her? When can she ever go to her window, but she shall
always see her persistent lover pass, silent in word but with eyes that
speak, with sad and languid face, with those burning sighs, often with
most abundant tears? When does she ever go forth to church or other
place, but he is always before her, and meets her at every turn of the
street with his melancholy passion depicted in his eyes, as if he were
expecting instant death? I leave aside the fripperies, inventions,
mottoes, devices, festivals, dances, games, masques, jousts,
tourneys!—all which things she knows are made for her.
“Then at night she can never wake but she hears music, or at least his
unquiet spirit sighing about the house walls and making lamentable
sounds. If by chance she wishes to speak to one of her women, the wench
(already corrupted with money) soon has ready a little gift, a letter, a
sonnet or some such thing to give her on the lover’s behalf, and then
coming in opportunely, makes her understand how the poor man is burning
with love, and in her service cares naught for his own life; and how he
seeks nothing from her that is less than seemly, and only desires to
speak with her. Then remedies are found for all difficulties, false
keys, rope ladders, sleeping potions; the thing is painted as of little
consequence; instances are given of many other women who do far worse.
Thus everything is made so easy that she has no further trouble than to
say, ‘I am willing.’ And even if the poor girl holds back for a time,
they add so many inducements, find so many ways, that with their
continual battering they break down that which stays her.
“And when they see that blandishments do not avail them, there are many
who have resort to threats and say they will accuse the woman to her
husband of being what she is not. Others bargain boldly with the fathers
and often with the husbands, who for money or to get favours give their
own daughters and wives as an unwilling prey. Others seek by
incantations and sorceries to steal from them that liberty which God has
bestowed upon their souls: whereof startling results are seen.
“But I could not in a thousand years rehearse all the wiles that men
employ to bring women to their wishes, for the wiles are infinite; and
besides those that every man finds for himself, writers have not been
lacking who have ingeniously composed books and therein taken every
pains to teach how women are to be duped in these matters.[421] Now,
among so many snares, think how there can be any safety for these simple
doves, lured by such sweet bait. And what wonder is it, then, if a woman
(seeing herself thus loved and adored for many years by a beautiful,
noble and accomplished youth, who a thousand times a day puts himself in
danger of death to serve her, nor ever thinks of aught but to please
her) is finally brought to love him by continual wearing (as water wears
the hardest marble), and, conquered by this passion, contents him with
that which you say she in the weakness of her sex desires more than her
lover? Do you think that this errour is so grave that the poor creature
who has been caught by so many flatteries, does not deserve even that
pardon which is often vouchsafed to homicides, thieves, assassins and
traitors? Will you insist that this offence is so heinous that because
you find some woman commits it, womankind ought to be wholly despised
and held universally devoid of continence, without regard to the many
who are found unconquerable, and who are proof against love’s continual
incitements, and firmer in their infinite constancy than rocks against
the surges of the ocean?”
51.—Messer Cesare having ceased speaking, my lord Gaspar then began to
reply, but my lord Ottaviano said, laughing:
“For the love of Heaven, pray grant him the victory, for I know you will
profit little; and methinks I see that you will make not only all these
ladies your enemies, but the greater part of the men also.”
My lord Gaspar laughed, and said:
“Nay, the ladies have great cause to thank me; for if I had not gainsaid
my lord Magnifico and messer Cesare, all these praises which they have
bestowed upon women would not have been heard.”
[Illustration:
FERDINAND THE CATHOLIC
1452-1516
]
Much enlarged from a part of Laurent’s photograph (no. 533) of an
altar-piece, formerly in the royal chapel of the Convent of St.
Thomas de Avila, but now in the Prado Gallery at Madrid. It was
painted about 1491 by order of the Inquisitor Torquemada, and has
been attributed to Miguel Zittoz.
Then messer Cesare said:
“The things that my lord Magnifico and I have said in praise of women,
and many others too, were very well known and hence superfluous.
“Who does not know that without women we can feel no content or
satisfaction throughout this life of ours, which but for them would be
rude and devoid of all sweetness and more savage than that of wild
beasts? Who does not know that women alone banish from our hearts all
vile and base thoughts, vexations, miseries, and those turbid
melancholies that so often are their fellows? and if you will consider
well the truth, we shall also see that in our understanding of great
matters women do not hamper our wits but rather quicken them, and in war
make men fearless and brave beyond measure. And certainly it is
impossible for vileness ever again to rule in a man’s heart where once
the flame of love has entered; for whoever loves desires always to make
himself as lovable as he can, and always fears lest some disgrace befall
him that may make him to be esteemed lightly with her by whom he desires
to be esteemed highly. Nor does he stop at risking his life a thousand
times a day to show himself worthy of her love: hence whoever could form
an army of lovers and have them fight in the presence of the ladies of
their love, would conquer all the world, unless there were opposed to it
another army similarly in love. And be well assured that Troy’s ten
years’ resistance against all Greece proceeded from naught else but a
few lovers, who on sallying forth to battle, armed themselves in the
presence of their women; and often these women helped them and spoke
some word to them at leaving, which inflamed them and made them more
than men. Then in battle they knew that they were watched by their women
from the walls and towers; wherefore it seemed to them that every act of
hardihood they performed, every proof they gave, won them their women’s
praise, which was the greatest reward they could have in the world.
“There are many who think that the victory of King Ferdinand of Spain
and Queen Isabella against the King of Granada was in great part due to
women; for very often when the Spanish army went out to meet the enemy,
Queen Isabella went out also with all her maids of honour, and in the
army went many noble cavaliers who were in love. These always went
conversing with their ladies until they reached the place where the
enemy were seen, then taking leave each of his own lady, they went on in
this presence to meet the enemy with that fierce spirit which was
aroused in them by their love and by the desire to make their ladies
sensible of being served by men of valour; thus a very few Spanish
cavaliers were often found putting a host of Moors to flight and to
death, thanks to gentle and beloved women.
“So I do not see, my lord Gaspar, what perversity of judgment has led
you to cast reproach on women.
52.—“Do you not know that the origin of all the graceful exercises that
give pleasure in the world is to be ascribed to none other than to
women? Who learns to dance and caper gallantly for aught else than to
please women? Who studies the sweetness of music for other cause than
this? Who tries to compose verses, in the vernacular at least, unless to
express those feelings that are inspired by women? Think how many very
noble poems we should be deprived of, both in the Greek tongue and in
the Latin, if women had been lightly esteemed by the poets. But to pass
all the others by, would it not have been a very great loss if messer
Francesco Petrarch, who so divinely wrote his loves in this language of
ours, had turned his mind solely to things Latin, as he would have done
if the love of madonna Laura had not sometimes drawn him from them?[422]
I do not name you the bright geniuses now on earth and present here, who
every day put forth some noble fruit and yet choose their subject only
from the beauties and virtues of women.
“You see that Solomon, wishing to write mystically of things lofty and
divine, to cover them with a graceful veil composed a fervent and tender
dialogue between a lover and his sweetheart, deeming that he could not
here below find any similitude more apt and befitting things divine than
love for women; and in this way he tried to give us a little of the
savour of that divinity which he both by knowledge and by grace knew
better than the rest.[423]
“Hence there was no need, my lord Gaspar, to dispute about this, or at
least so wordily: but by gainsaying the truth you have prevented us from
hearing a thousand other fine and weighty matters concerning the
perfection of the Court Lady.”
My lord Gaspar replied:
“I believe nothing more is left to say; yet if you think that my lord
Magnifico has not adorned her with enough good qualities, the fault lay
not with him, but with the one who arranged that there are not more
virtues in the world; for the Magnifico gave her all there are.”
My lady Duchess said, laughing:
“You shall now see that my lord Magnifico will find still others.”
The Magnifico replied:
“Indeed, my Lady, methinks I have said enough, and for my part I am
content with this Lady of mine; and if these gentlemen will not have her
as she is, let them leave her to me.”
53.—Here everyone remaining silent, messer Federico said: